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EVENT DESCRIPTION

Majority of Christians all around the world commemorate Easter with notable church services or Mass which traditionally involves music pertaining to the theme of Easter, candle-lighting, flowers and church bells ringing. Easter processions are uncommon in most Christian countries except the Philippines and Spain. A large number of Christians view Easter as the greatest feast of the church on the Christian calendar.  It is a joyous occasion that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as it is written in the Bible. In Italy, many municipalities and districts have ecclesiastical dramas about the events of Easter which are held in the piazzas on Easter Day. There are pastries baked in the form of a crown called corona di Nove. Other foods traditionally eaten on Easter Sunday are capretto (lamb), and Agnello (kid/goat). In Poland, Easter is celebrated with family over a meal that includes ham, sausages, salads, babka, (a Polish cake) and Mazurka, or sweet cakes filled with nuts, fruit and honey. The religious significance of Easter is lost on many of the younger generation in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdon and the United States because Easter for them, is an occasion to get new clothes for the spring season, to decorate Easter eggs, and to participate in the hunt for Easter eggs that are said to be hidden by the easter bunny. Some children receive Easter baskets full of candy, snacks, and presents at this time of the year. 

Easter Sunday always falls on a Sunda, sometimes as early as March 22 or as late as April 25th. Easter Sunday is generally a non-working day in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdon and the United States. As per regulation, government offices and schools are generally closed in countries where Sunday is a non-working day, and business activities are limited. In countries where Sunday is a non-working day, transport schedules are reduced or may operate on an entirely different schedule to that of a working weekday or ordinary Sunday. A great number of Christians celebrate Easter Sunday as the day Jesus Christ rose from the grave, a written record in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. In the Book of John, in the New Testament, it is written that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus was buried but found it empty. An angel told her that Jesus Christ had risen. Christians of all denominations have celebrated Easter for centuries. But the roots of Easter holidays and commemorations date back to pagan celebrations. It is believed that the name Easter comes from the original name Eostara, the goddess of rebirth. In ancient times, a feast of Eostara was traditionally held to celebrate the earth's resurrection and rebirth. Devoted Puritans diverted completely from Easter as it was a merely man-made custom. However, in 1647, Charles I, King of England, declared the day as scriptural as Sunday, but Parliament opposed him in written text and destroyed his declaration with other church festivals.

Easter date is aligned with the ecclesiastical conjecture of March equinox. In 325 CE the council of Nicaea decided that the Easter date would be the first Sunday after the full moon equinox. Therefore, Easter is delayed by a week if the full moon is on Sunday, which makes it less likely to coincide on the same day as the Jewish Passover. Eastern Orthodox churches in a number of countries, including Greece, still decipher their Easter date based on the Julian calendar. Easter eggs and Easter bunny are both symbols of fertility, dating back to the feast of Eostara. Other symbols that are parallel with Christian Easter celebrations are the joyous celebrations of the rising sun of spring observed by pagans, which coincides with the Christians joy of the rising of the Son of God from the dead. Another parallel between the Christain and pagan celebrations at Easter is the lighting of candles in churches during Mass or services, which again is contested with pagan bonfires. During Easter there are usually statues and paintings of Jesus Christ on display as a memorial and thanksgiving to God. 

LIKELY DATES

April 9th, 2023

Date changes every year.